People usually take care of their oral hygiene using toothpaste from a tube. But finding a clean toothpaste without harmful chemicals is difficult nowadays. Many toothpaste brands contain chemicals like sodium fluoride, sodium lauryl sulphate, and artificial sweeteners. This chemical concoction is not ideal for our oral health. Luckily, there are Natural Toothpaste Alternatives that we can try.
How Diet Can Affect Your Teeth and Gums
Let’s talk about diet before delving into DIY toothpaste recipes. High sugar diets negatively affect oral health by feeding organisms in the mouth that create acids and biofilms leading to tooth decay and yellow film buildup. A mineral-rich diet with greens and animal skin/broths containing magnesium, calcium, and phosphorus is key. Vitamin D and K2, found in animal products and fatty fish like salmon, also play a crucial role in bone and teeth health. Natural Toothpaste Alternatives are a great option for maintaining oral hygiene without harsh chemicals.
Consuming too much sugar, particularly refined sugar, depletes magnesium stores needed for sugar metabolism[1]. Magnesium, along with calcium and phosphorus, gives bones and teeth strength and durability. These minerals, along with collagen, are essential to include in your diet. Best sources are greens and meat, especially animal skin or broths. Vitamin D and K2 are important for telling minerals to enter the bone tissue[2]. Animal products like fatty grass-fed pastured egg yolks and butter and wild fish, such as salmon, mackerel, and sardines, are the best foods for these vitamins. I have a whole post explaining the importance of fat soluble nutrients here! Don’t forget that sun exposure is the best source of vitamin D.
Read this article too: Common Myths about The Sun
I’m going to design this recipe format a little differently. You can add, replace, or remove ingredients based on your toothpaste goals. Mix and match to find your perfect combination.
Crafting Your Own Toothpaste Alternative
To create effective Natural Toothpaste Alternatives, start with an oil-based toothpaste. Essential oils for fresh breath are commonly added, making an oily base ideal for even distribution.
An oily base draws fat-soluble toxins from your gums and mouth. People traditionally use cold-pressed sesame seed oil for oil pulling, which is an effective way to care for oral hygiene. Olive or coconut oil can be used as substitutes, but coconut oil can be difficult to use as it solidifies.
You can use any toothpaste made with this base for oil pulling. To do so, take one tablespoon and swish it in your mouth, or use the oil to brush your teeth. Don’t swallow the oil because it can cause nausea by reabsorbing toxins and bacteria.
Whiteners and Deodorants (Optional)
After selecting your base, you can add a deodorant or whitener if you want. For whitening and deodorizing, activated charcoal or bicarbonate of soda are good options. Use one heaped tablespoon per cup of base, as you don’t need a lot of either.
Perfume (Optional)
Essential oils can add flavor and scent to your toothpaste. They can also disrupt biofilms and kill bacteria in your mouth. Mint and peppermint are popular options, but you can also try unique ones like clove oil. Some people make toothpaste with olive oil and oil of oregano, which is effective according to my dad.
If you use this guide to create some toothpaste, please, share it with me in the comments! I’d love to hear what you tried and how it came out!
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